Burial vault



Aug. 29 1944. Q I TURQER 2,356,957

' BURIAL VAULT Filed Feb. 25. 1944 17 .1 m2 7 I 4 vs I/ INVENTOR.

A TTOP/VEX 04 W0 V TURNER Patented Aug. 29, '1944 UNITED STATE s' PA ENT OFFICE This invention relates to improvements in burial vaults and has particular relation to a system for sealing such vaults againstthe entrance of ground water and for draining them of condensate and other fluids.

In usual practice, there are only-two kinds of burial vaults, both of which are made in two sections. vault. In this type the sides, ends and top are in one piece and the bottom a separate piece. This vault is generally made of metal and is sealed by air and allows water to escape from the vault between the bottom and the side which is not sealed.

Another is the non air sealed vault. In this type, the sides, ends, and bottom are in one'piece and the smaller top is in another piece. This vault is generally made of concrete and is sealed by cement, tar, asphalt or other good sealers and does not let the water from seepage or body fluids out of the vault.

My invention combines the good features in both of these vaults and eliminates the bad features. This can be done by using the non air sealed type and installing a valve constructed according to my invention.

It is extremely desirable in burial vaults tha the body be enclosed in a chamber constructed on the diving bell principle so that air is trapped within the vault, but such an enclosure should be open at the bottom to permit drainage of body fluids, condensate and the like. This condition brings up a difficulty in lowering the vault into place in that if the vault is open at the bottom the entrapped air may be lost and water get into the vault. If the vault were entirely sealed, of course this part of the difliculty can be avoided, but later when drainage of the vault is necessary to carry off condensate, body liquids and the like, the vault should be opened at the bottom to permit drainage.

7 It is therefore one of the main objects of my invention to provide means which may be applied to a vault AA to seal off the vault during the initial period of use but which will open up later on to permit drainage from the vault and the body contained in the casket.

One is the air sealed or diving bell type the escape and drainage of these liquids without permitting the entrance of ground water into the vault.

I Other and further features and objects of the invention will be moreapparent to those skilled in the art upon a consideration of the accompanying drawing and following specifications, wherein isdiscloseda single embodiment of the invention, with the understanding, however, that such changes may be made therein as fall within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In said drawing:

Figure l is a view in perspective illustrating a vault to whichmy invention may be applied.

Figure 2 is a view, partly in elevation and partly in section, of the device shown in Figure l and illustrating how my sealing means is applied to the vault.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view in section illustrating the seal between the base and the top of the vault, and

Figure 4 is an enlarged view in section illustrating a preferred valve structure constructed according to my invention.

Referring to Figure 1; the vault l0 may be of any standard construction, but in the embodiment here shown, it consists of a concrete base l0! and a concrete cap or top I02 with a seal I03 therebetween to provide a closed chamber.

In order to seal the vault during the first period I provide a valve structure illustrated gen- Another important object of my invention is to provide means to keep water out of the vault while the casket is being lowered into the vault and top is fitted into place and sealed, but in which one or more drains are caused to open up at the bottom of the vault when condensate and body liquids collect after the vault has been sealed and the grave covered over, to thus permit erally at H and, in the present embodiment of the invention, consisting of a disc of thin iron or the like which will rust or disintegrate fairly rapidly so that-after a relatively short period of time this closure is perforated by rust or disin tegration and any liquids collecting inside the vault will drain off.

In order to guide this disc or valve in its application to the vault, I provide a punched-up or domed center portion III. This center portion also serves to direct the fluid to the edge of the lower end of the conduit IE to concentrate the fluids at one point so as to cause them to immediately attack the valve as soon as they begin to collect. Any suitable sealing means 18 may be employed between the valve H and the bottom of the vault and tar or asphalt, or even neat cement may be employed.

I preferably use four of these conduits and valves, one at each corner of the vault. These are illustrated in Figures 1 and 2. Obviously any suitable material and form of valve may be employed.

A valve system constructed according to my invention consists of one or more conduits, preferably four in number, each conduit about two inches in diameter, the conduits passing entirely through the bottom of the vault and being covered on the outside bottom by a plate of metal, plastic, rubber or other material which would have a rapid tendencyto corrode or loosen the seal of the plate soon after the top had been placed on and the vault sealed. In order to guide this disk or plate to secure correct application to the vault, I provide a punched up or domed center portion I! I. This center also serves to direct the fluid to the edge of the lower end of the conduit Hi to concentrate the fluids at one point so as to cause them to immediately attack the valve as soon as water begins to collect inside the vault.

Advantages of my improved system over the air sealed vault is that the heavy part of the vault, such as sides, ends and bottom,- may be placed-in'the grave before the service regardless of the fact that there might be water in the grave, thus avoiding the awkward procedure of lowering the heavier combination of complete vault, casket and-body'aiter the service. In addition to this, the side waHs and ends of this vault materially help keep'the grave from caving in. Alsothis vault may-be 'madeof reinforced concrete or plastic or other material which will not rust.

The improvement of a vault constructed according to my system over the non air sealed vault is that the water from seepage and from the body will be drained out of the vault.

Although I have shown and described several embodiments of my invention, it is apparent that modifications thereof may be made by those skilled in the art. Such modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a burial vault having a drainage conduit, means for sealing the conduit through the early portion of its use and opening it later, comprising a seal, and means for directing fluids against the seal, the seal being of material which will rust or disintegrate readily so that the liquids which collect will attack the seal and perforate it or loosen up the seal.

2; A burial vault, having a drain opening, a

means for sealing the vault comprising a cap of readily oxidizing material having a domed portion adapted to fitintothe conduit leading from the vault to direct the cap in its application and to direct the flow of fluid to portions of. the cap which are most readily attacked by oxidation.

DAVID TURN-ER. 

